Pilgrim Coffeehouse

****NOTE: This review was done prior to the Covid-19 outbreak. Of course, things are much different at the moment, but we hope things get back to normal soon and hope you will continue these local businesses****

Pilgrim Coffeehouse

Description on  Pilgrim Coffeehouse’s website: Pilgrim Coffeehouse was started by a group of folks who could see the need in a neighborhood of Seattle for a community gathering spot. The goal has always been to open a premium cafe with quality coffee, delicious bites, and a welcoming environment for every guest; no matter their walk of life.

Neighborhood:  North Aurora

Address: 10002 Aurora Ave N #22, Seattle, WA 98133

Music Playing:

What we ate/drank: Cortado

Comments:  The first time we encountered Pilgrim Coffee, it was in the form of a cool repurposed coffee truck at a art event in Magnuson Park.  In February 0f 2021 they’ve graduated to a brick and mortar location in the Oak Tree Village on Aurora Ave. It’s the first new cafe we’ve visited in 2021.

Before talking about Pilgrim Coffeehouse, we want to wax nostalgic for a bit about Oak Tree Village. When we first moved to Seattle, Oak Tree Village was a busy bustling strip mall. They had cineplex and Larry’s Market, which was the Seattle version of Whole Foods. This was in the late 90’s. Times have changed. The cineplex is gone and there is now an Asian and Mexican market. It’s nice to see the Burgermaster across the street still surviving.

A few things stood out to us when visiting Pilgrim Coffeehouse.

• They have a flap board like the ones you would see in a Paris train station. It changes every so often and displays the Seattle weather/humidity, inspirational sayings and info about Pilgrim Coffeehouse.  The only other place we’ve seen a flap board used is at RN74 where they use it for wine prices/availability.
• They roast their own beans
• They have a contraption(coffee brewer) that is not only visually interesting, but combines immersion, agitation and vacuum to create a brewed coffee. You looks like something straight out of a scientist’s laboratory. You can read about the process here.
• The customer service is great. Although the Cortado I got was 6 oz. I was offered it in a 8 oz cup in case I decided to take it to go. Also, when I asked about the Ground Control coffee brewer mentioned above, the cashier offered me a free sample to taste.

The cafe location is on a corner spot and lets in a lot of light from the north and east. It’s a simple square configuration with high bar seating along the windows, built-in bench seating and separate tables. There are outlets along the bench area. A few seats and chairs are outside. Unfortunately, the view is of the parking lot. The decor is simple concrete floors, wood tables and steel chairs. There appears to be a built stage in the corner, so perhaps when things get back to normal, they plan on having live music?

For food options they’ve got both sweet and savory pasties along with cookies from Lowrider Cookies.  They’ve also got a few packaged snacks. They have a rather large kitchen/prep area, so I wonder if sandwiches/hot dishes are in the future plans.

Pilgrim Coffeehouse is the furthest north we’ve ever traveled to visit a cafe in Seattle. Although it’s not so far from Greenwood or Green Lake, this area was sorely in need of a quality cafe. I love the fact that they are not only a quality cafe, but also a roaster.

Ratings(1-5)

Favorite Thing: A modern space with some vintage touches in old Ballard.

Atmosphere:  4.25

Service: 5.00

Food Options: 4.25

Overall: 4.50

Eavedropping  Convo:

Related:

• Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Seattle Coffee Shops
• What Visitors Think of Seattle
• Seattle Food Wars
• Our Seattle Coffee Shop Thoughts – Updated/Revisited 2020